Leo Valdez

Percy had leader stuff to do, so now we started talking about both of them.

"Honestly," Frank remarked. "And I won't say it around because I don't want to die, but I don't want to feel insane."

He paused for a moment.

"When we met Percy," the son of Mars told us. "I deadass thought he was gay. I didn't believe he wasn't until you showed up, Annabeth. And even then... It really wasn't until Tartarus that I figured he was straight. But you guys were also never thing so...?"

"I'm not the only one!" Grover jumped at that chance. Scared us. "Oh my gods. I brought it up like once and I mean he wasn't mad, but he was really defensive about it. I haven't asked since."

"I remember that," Annabeth remarked. "Let's be honest guys, I'm still not convinced. If he was straight, he'd have a girlfriend long before now."

So of course now were debating Percy's sexuality.

When Nico got back we ended up deciding that until he tells us otherwise, he's straight. And that just...

I had ideas.

So after campfire I caught up with Nico. Figured I'd just offer. I wasn't going to go and just ask him if he was gay. I feel like after Jason, he wouldn't take it well.

"Hey, Nico," I said, and he slowed a little for me. Thoughtful. "I forgot to say earlier, but thanks for talking to me earlier. If you like ever need help, maybe with his girlfriend Jason is so boned over, or whatever, just like let me know."

He gave me a half smile, and I felt honored.

"No problem," he insisted. "And I'll take it into consideration. Maybe I'll explain to you in a few weeks. Maybe. Don't expect me to remember or actually do it, though."

"I never would."

•••
Nico di Angelo

It was nice to have another friend that like I could hopefully slowly put trust into. Not like what happened with Jason.

When I got back to my cabin, though, Hazel was in my room. And it's not like she was going through my stuff. Just looking at the old portrait. One of the only things I have from my mom.

"What're you doing in here?" I questioned as I walked in. "it's late."

"Just looking," she told me, motioning at the old painting. "leo was talking about it. Mentioned how your mom and his mind both died in a fire. Percy told us a little about Bianca. Not much. I wanted to ask, but it seemed kind of touchy. I forgot you had family. You know, outside of me and dad."

"That's because they're dead now," I reminded my sister. "And honestly, in long term, Percy took Bianca harder than I did. He blamed himself for what happened to me. Running away. Kind of doing shitty at taking care of myself. Plus, she was like the first person I think that he actually saw die."

"Which is freaky." Hazel understood. "you're okay, though? People kind of gave you a lot of shit today, myself included. Jason said you got a little pissy."

"Yeah, but that's Jason's fault." I explained to her, shrugging. "he was being a dumbass and saying shit he shouldn't have. So yeah, I'm all good. Are you?"

She smiled and told me that she was doing good. Which is always good to hear.

It was really nice when I got to sleep in and wake up to a text from Percy. It made me smile.

Percy 💙: Hey, you okay? You're normally one of the first ones at breakfast.
Percy 💙: Oh, nevermind, Hazel just told us you're sleeping in. Lucky.
Percy 💙: Oh! Yeah! I'll be at your cabin at 5 to pick you up 💙

I smiled and glanced at the time. It was... Lunch was in five minutes.

Why didn't Hazel wake me up?

Nico 💕: I'll be waiting ;)
Nico 💕: Also, you should save me a spot at lunch, that'd be great.

Percy 💙: of course.

I got ready I think faster than I ever have before and headed to lunch.

"Oh my gods, he's not dead!" Frank remarked when he saw me. "You decided to get up?"

"You could've woken me up," I pointed out to them as I sat down next to Percy.

"We tried," Hazel told me. "You wouldn't budge. After like ten minutes, we gave up. But uh... That girlfriend of yours?"

"The one I don't have?" I suggested.

"Yeah! Her." Hazel went on, and Percy just rolled his eyes. "You should like bring her to meet us."

"Again," I remind her. "I don't have one, Hazel. Unless you're planning on getting me a girlfriend..."

I shouldn't have said that. They started to match make me.

"There's this girl I go to school with," Percy suggested, and looked at me. "You remember Angel, right?"

He's smart.

"Angel?" I repeated and caught in to his idea to make this date less suspicious. "Oh, yeah! She was nice, I guess. I don't know, we've met once."

"Even better!" Piper said.

"Sweet," Percy said. "I'll text her about a date for like tonight? I have to run into the city anyways, I can drive you in and just wait around."

"Really?" I responded and Percy nodded, insisting it was fine. "Thanks. I mean, if she responds."

Weirdly enough, she responded within 15 minutes. Said that it sounded like a great idea, she thought I was cute.

That's when Piper dragged me off. I had to be ready at 5, after all. It was 1:30.

I ended up wearing a pretty nice outfit, if I say so myself. I was wearing a deep red button down with a nice black leather jacket and black ripped jeans. Skinny jeans, of course. And then converse to match my shirt.

It was great.

Also, she repainted my nails black because I like black nails. They're not bad. They actually don't look half bad on me.

When Piper put me in front of the mirror, I just had this moment with myself. You know, I'm always wearing camp stuff and that just isn't very nice.

So to see myself in street clothes? I was just hit with this emotion, and I don't how to describe it. But suddenly I realized that I'm not this little kid anymore. I'm not the boy who lost his sister. I'm not the freak.

I'm a teenager who now has a little sister, some friends, and I'm about to go out on my first date. With somebody I actually was kind of crazy about.

I've grown up, and it's such a weird thought.

Because I'm no longer the same kid I was when Bianca was around. When Mom was still here. When I still could play with Bella and Nate.

I've grown up. I've matured. Become my own person. And now I've accepted that.

It was such an out of body expierence for a solid 30 seconds, I think I worried Piper for a minute or so.

"Nico," the daughter of Aphrodite got my attention and I turned around, feeling good about myself. "Are you okay? If you don't like it or don't want to go on the date-"

"No, I'm good," I assured her, giving her a smile. "I was just... Thinking, I guess. I do like it, though, thank you."

"I wouldn't do anything else," Piper insisted, returning the smile. "What were you thinking about?"

I shrugged.

"I'm not sure exactly," I explained the thought process to her. "My sister. I guess when you wear the same thing every day, you don't feel like you've changed much. But like I have and..."

For a moment, I signed.

"I mean, it's a good thing." For a moment, I saw her get a little worried. "I'm a lot happier with myself and I actually have friends and people that care now. So far, it's proved to be a good thing."

Again, she smiled at me and gave me a hug.

"I'm glad that you've noticed," Piper told me, which was nice to hear. "But it's like 4:30. You should go grab your stuff so you can impress this soon to be girlfriend of yours with more than looks. Good luck."

I smiled as we reached the door, and I don't know what it was. But something with the confidence of that little moment I had with myself just boosted my confidence.

"I'm not even meeting with her, so I'm not too worried about a girlfriend." I told Piper, which of course had her attention. "I think I have somebody else in mine, but thank you. I'll let you know how it goes."